Kansas Sampler Festival set for this weekend

The Kansas Sampler Festival is like a living brochure of Kansas with more then 100 communities providing a sample of what there is to see, do, hear, taste, buy and learn in Kansas.

by Abigail WilsonDodge City Daily Globe

The Kansas Sampler Festival is like a living brochure of Kansas with more then 100 communities providing a sample of what there is to see, do, hear, taste, buy and learn in Kansas. The dates for this year's festival are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 4 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at Light Park in Liberal.

According to a release from the organization, the Kansas Sampler Festival was designed to bring communities and attractions from all over the state together to make it easy for the public to discover day trip possibilities.

"In other words, the primary purpose of the festival is to provide the public a sample of what there is to see and do in Kansas," the release states. "Whether you are looking for hiking trails, historic sites, natural landmarks, unique restaurants, off-the-beaten track eateries, architectural gems, hole-in-the-wall performing centers, artists-at-work, specialty shops, or have-to-be-there Kansas events, this festival is for you!"

The Kansas Sampler Festival website tells attendees to expect tent after tent of exhibitors placed in geographical regions promoting tourism attractions. Food booths and entertainment stages will be placed around the grounds as well. Festival foods include Becky's Bierocks from St. Francis, Old-Time Ice Cream from Harper, and buffalo burgers from Dry Creek Buffalo Company, Wamego. Paxico Merchants will be telling about their unique downtown and Meatloaf Festival and Concordia will tout their Whole Wall Mural. Duck Salt from Greensburg will introduce their popular seasoning to the festival audience and Council Grove's Paradise Ranch are returning to showcase their packgoats and Mammoth donkeys, according to the website. Available for sale will be Kansas art, honey and fishing lures.

"There are little pockets of surprises such as a row of historical performers, someone on a stump asking Kansas questions, artists at work, a petting zoo, blacksmith demonstrations and who knows what else."

At the 2012 Kansas Sampler Festival in Liberal last year, more than 5,000 people attended.
The public can park at Seward County Community College, 1801 N. Kansas, and take a shuttle to Light Park.

Lend a hand
Volunteers are needed to help host the Dodge City booth, handing out information and making a good impression, with the goal of enticing those who attend the festival to visit Dodge City.

Volunteer opportunities are scheduled in five shifts for the festival: Load-in and set-up on Friday, May 3 plus four shifts during the festival — 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday May 4, 1:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday May 4, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday May 5 and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday May 5, including tear down.
To sign up for a shift at the festival, call Sandie Masden at 620-430-6021.